Dyrnwyn; The Blade that Blazes Only for the Worthy Man
Chapter One; Aegrota
Aegrota. Adjective. 1. Love-sick, pining. 2. Ill, sick.
Geordi woke with a groan. So much for the alcohol helping his head. His temples were throbbing like the warp core. His mouth was dry, his tongue sandpapery. He fervently hoped that he had gotten back to his own quarters because he was pretty sure that as soon as he moved, he was going to throw up.
"Good morning Geordi."
Oh no.
Oh no.
"H... Hey, Data."
Okay, keep calm, try and remember. They had been at the bar, he drank too much, Data took him to his quarters... and was still here. Had they...? No, he was sure he'd remember. But something had happened...
Oh no!
"Um, do you know where my visor is?"
"It is over here, you left it on the couch last night. Shall I bring it to you?"
"Yes please." Geordi's voice was thick, his tongue felt like it belonged to someone else, and as Data pressed the visor into his hand, Geordi's stuttering brain provided him with the tactile memory of a tongue belonging to someone else...
OH NO!
He snapped the visor on and hurried into the bathroom, avoiding the android's concerned gaze.
In the end he wasn't sick, he just hovered over the sink trembling and gagging. He took his visor off and splashed his face with water, swilled his mouth and spat to get rid of the miserable taste of his own stale breath. He snapped the visor back on and looked at himself blearily in the mirror.
"You fucking idiot, La Forge." He berated himself. He would stay in the bathroom forever, because that meant that he would never have to look at that face, those eyes, never have to explain. He would sit there on the cold floor and wait for the inevitable heat death of the universe.
He sighed deeply and left the bathroom.
Data stood again as Geordi stumbled back to his bed. The android crossed the room to where the engineer lay groaning, a light sheen of sweat across his dark forehead.
"Geordi? Are you well?"
"No, no I'm not. I... I had too much to drink last night."
"Ah. You are suffering from the after-effects of the overconsumption of alcohol, known as a hangover. I will get a glass of coconut water for you."
The glass was placed gently on the table beside his head, and Geordi rolled over to look at the android. Data cocked his head.
"My research suggests that this would be a suitable beverage for you, as it contains many vitamins and nutrients and will also help to rehydrate you. It is also suggested that you consume some high carbohydrate food, preferably something bland, to help to combat your nausea. How do you like your oatmeal?"
"Uh..." Data was making him breakfast. He really wished he was thinking more clearly, but this pounding in his head was overwhelming. "... With honey?"
Data nodded and went to the replicator. Geordi lay his head back down and tried to ignore the feeling that someone had been tampering with the inertial dampers.
Data returned with a gently steaming bowl. Geordi hauled himself up and jammed a pillow behind his back.
"I really don't feel like eating." He grumbled as Data pressed the bowl and a spoon into his hands.
"Nevertheless," Replied the android, "it will be beneficial. You do not have to eat it all." He conceded magnanimously. "My research into the phenomenon of supposed hangover cures has proved most enlightening, there is a fascinating array of folk remedies purported to be of assistance in alleviating the symptoms of excessive alcohol consumption. The Prairie Oyster, for example, is a raw egg yolk with Worcestershire sauce, which should be swallowed whole, whilst Hungarians used to believe that sparrow droppings in brandy would serve as a cure. The ancient Romans recommended deep fried canaries, and Italians suggest a dried bull's penis..."
"Okay, that's it." Geordi put the bowl on the side table with a thump and stumbled back into the bathroom.
This time he did throw up.
"Hey, there's my hero!" Lieutenant Daniels grinned up from the biobed at Data as he walked into the medical department. Data returned the smile.
"Lieutenant Daniels. I am glad to see you looking well. Is Doctor Crusher here?"
"Sure!" Daniels jerked his thumb in the direction of her office. "Don't leave without saying goodbye to me, it's getting pretty boring just lying here!"
Data assured Daniels that he would return and strode into the doctor's office, where Crusher was poring over some notes on a PADD. She looked up as he entered, and her expression brightened.
"Data! Good to see you up and about! What can I do for you?"
"Good morning, Doctor. Might I requisition a hypospray containing an analgesic?"
Crusher frowned. "Are you still experiencing pain?"
"No, I am quite well. It is for Geordi."
"Oh! Sure, I'll get you something for him." Crusher stood and began rummaging through her store of pre-prepared hypos. "What's the problem?"
Data's eyes flicked back and forth for a moment before he answered. "He has a headache."
Crusher glanced at him with one eyebrow raised. "You mean he has a hangover?"
Data's eyes flickered again. "I... I am not sure of..."
"Data..." Crusher sighed as she fished out the relevant hypo. "You don't have to cover for him, I know there was real alcohol going around the bar last night, he's not the only one suffering this morning. I hope he's learned his lesson." She handed him the hypo, and he looked at her strangely.
"I think it is safe to say that the effects of his inebriation will leave a lasting impression."
Geordi had finished the oatmeal and the coconut water when Data got back, and he sighed with relief as the android pressed the hypo to his neck. He clicked off his visor and fell back onto the bed, his headache finally fading. Damn, he had all but forgotten what it felt like not to have that thumping pressure in his skull. He felt Data's nimble fingers slip the visor out of his hand and heard the gentle click as it was placed on the table next to him.
"Rest now, Geordi. I will come back and check on you later."
Data spent what remained of the morning and into the afternoon in his quarters, answering personal messages, entertaining his cat when she permitted it, and running a thorough system analysis on himself. Not that he didn't trust the engineers, but he had found that he felt better when he made sure of such things himself. He was grateful that the captain had suggested he take some time for himself before returning to his duties.
When the time came for him to update his personal log he hesitated. It was a rare occurrence for one such as he, but he discovered that, for once, he had no idea what to say. The whole situation that he had become embroiled in over the last day had left him terribly confused.
"Second Officer's personal log; I find myself in something of a predicament regarding my colleague and friend Geordi. His behaviour has been most confusing and his opinions on the matter contradictory. If this is the way that all humans go about their relationships, I am not sure that this is a part of humanity that I wish to imitate. He has been by turns provocative, hostile, evasive, contrary and... The whole experience has been... Stimulating."